Buttonhole spreader



Feb. 4, 1969 c. M. GoBHA| ETLAL 3,425,372

. BUTTONHOLESPREADER Sheet Filed Deo. 4, 1964 FIGQ -1 llllllll mw A252 LEE-l@ ggg! plu. F

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BUTTONHOLE SPREADER Sheet 2 of' 5 Filed Dec. 4, 1964 FIG 9 /N Kfm m6 1 5y, MM) M.

9@ www Afro/wrs Feb. 4, 1969 c. M. GOBHAI ET AL 3,425,372

BUTTONHOLE SPREADER Sheet Filed Dec. 4, 1964 mw w. F

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United States Patent O 3,425,372 BUTTONHOLE SPREADER Cavas M. Gobhai, 115 Brattle St., and Amarjt Chopra, 12 Concord Ave., both of Cambridge, Mass. 02138, and Har-y Schoener, 144-55 Melbourne Ave., Flushing, N.Y. 11367 Filed Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 415,878 U.S. Cl. 112-114 Int. Cl. DllSb 3/06 The present invention relates to the sewing of buttons on garments and other articles and more particularly to a mechanical buttonhole spreader for facilitating rapid mechanical sewing of buttons onto an underlying fabric by stitches passing through buttonholes previously formed in an overlapping Iportion of the same or a different fabric.

The sewing of buttons on garments and other articles is normally one of the most time consuming and precise operations in their manufacture. In some production operations, positions for buttons are carefully marked on a fabric, buttons are then sewn onto their predetermined positions and time is spent engaging the buttons in their corresponding buttonholes before such garments or other articles are packaged or presented for sale. This conventional procedure is highly reliable, yet extremely time consuming and therefore costly.

Attempts have been made in the past to speed up the button attaching procedure by sewing buttons onto an underlying fabric by stitches Ipassing through buttonholes previously formed in an overlapping portion of the same or a different fabric. This procedure could save considerable time and labor since the sewn buttons are automatically engaged with their corresponding buttonholes and in many cases, the precise marking step can be eliminated. However, this procedure has not met with widespread commercial acceptance perhaps due to the fact that eficient and relatively inexpensive apparatus for mechanically carrying out the buttonhole spreading and button clamping of the button to the underlying fabric previous to sewing, have not been available to the trade.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a mechanical buttonhole spreader for facilitating rapid, mechanical sewing of buttons to an underlying fabric by stitches passing through buttonholes previously formed in an overlapping portion of the same or a different fabric.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a buttonhole spreader in accordance with the preceding object which is relatively inexpensive yet highly eficient and time saving in operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a buttonhole spreader in accordance with the preceding objects which can be combined with a conventional button clamp for use in conventional sewing machines and which operates along with the button clamp during the normal time required for clamping and positioning a button adjacent a fabric.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a rapid and eflicient method of sewing a button to a fabric simultaneously with engagement of the button with a corresponding buttonhole of the fabric.

According to the invention, the buttonhole spreader preferably comprises means for supporting the spreader in operative engagement with a sewing machine and means for bringing the spreader against edges of a buttonhole with a downward force. Means are carried by the spreader reactive to the downward force for exerting a spreading force on side edges of the buttonhole. Thus, a compressive vertically oriented force on the spreader activates horizontal motion.

In a preferred embodiment, a buttonhole .spreader is provided in a sewing machine button clamp having two 16 claims ICC opposed pincer arms arranged to move towards and away from each other to alternately retain or release a button therebetween. The pincer arms each carry means for spreading apart edges or lips of a buttonhole during the nrtlrrmal movement of the pincer arms in the sewing mac lne.

The pincer arms of a conventional button clamp normally are spread apart and then resiliently moved towards each other to engage and clamp a button. Following clamping of the button, the pincer arms are normally brought downwardly to position the button adjacent the fabric to which it is to be sewn by a sewing machine needle substantially vertically aligned with holes in the button. Preferably, the buttonhole spreader comprises a resilient spring means attached to lower portions of the pincer arms to frictionally engage portions of a fabric on opposite sides of a conventional buttonhole having two parallel closely adjacent side lips or edges. In alternate embodiments of this invention means are provided for engaging nd pulling or pushing apart adjacent edges of a buttonole.

According to the preferred method of this invention, adjacent parallel edges of a buttonhole are spread apart by a mechanical spring means a distance less than the diameter of a button to be sewn to a fabric underlying the buttonhole. The button is then stitched to the underlying fabric and the mechanical spring means for spreading apart the buttonhole is disengaged causing the lips of the buttonhole to return to substantially their original positions with the button engaging the buttonhole.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a sewing machine button clamp carrying a preferred embodiment of the buttonhole spreader of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front view thereof showing a step in the operation of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom view of an alternate embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the buttonhole spreader shown in FIG. 6',

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front view of still another alternate embodiment of this invention in association with a fabric or garment being worked on;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front view showing a second position of the embodiment of the invention as seen in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front perspective view showing still another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. l0 is a front view partially in phantom showing still another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 1l is a side view thereof.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1-4, the preferred embodiment of the buttonhole spreader of this invention is designated generally at 10 and is made up of a two part spreader attachment 11 and 12 located on the lower surface of two pincer arms 13 and 14 of a conventional button clamp.

The button clamp in the preferred embodiment of this invention is a conventional button clamp manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company for use with Singer Class 114 machines as more fully illustrated in Singer Form 8424 (REV. published by the Singer Manufacturing Company, Copyright 1936. The bottom clamp pincer arms 13 and 14 are generally L-shaped and' extend from their gripping faces and 16 rearwardly to pivot points, not shown, mounted on a support bar 18 which enables the arms 13 and 14 to pivot towards and away from each other substantially in a plane. Pivoting of the arms from their normally inner most position as seen in FIG. 2 is activated by rearward pressure exerted on a spring loaded finger plate 19 which is attached to a cam plate 20 which in turn has cam tracks 21 extending rearwardly to a generally V configuration. Cam followers (not shown) on each of arms 13 and 14 are engaged with the tracks 21 on either side of the cam plate 20 so that rearward pressure forces the arms apart and release of pressure allows the spring loaded arms to return towards each other in a pincer-like movement. Spring 22 is attached to a fixed bracket 23 at its forward end and to fthe rear end (not shown) of a tongue 24 at a second end. The tongue 24 is fixed to the 'cam plate 20 and moves therewith along the support bar 18. Thus, rearward rnovement of the finger plate 19 which is fixed to the cam plate 20, extends the spring 22 so that release of pressure on fthe finger plate causes the loading of the spring to urge the tongue 24 as well as the pincer arms 13 and 14 towards a common center point or a button if placed between the arms and the tongue.

The bracket 23 is attached to support bar 18 by means of screws 20' and preferably has an integral generally Z- shaped hook member 23 extending upwardly from the =bar 18.

In accordance with conventional practice, the pincer arms 13 and 14 each have positioning plates 228 and 29 mounted adjacent opposed upper and lower surfaces with extension portions passing gripping face surfaces 15 and 16 to provide notches at the facing ends of the pincer arms adapted to position a button in the original plane of the arms as is more clearly shown in FIG. 1.

Plates 28 are mounted by screws 28a and extend over a substantial portion of the downwardly curved arms 13 and 14 as best shown in FIG. 1. Plates 29 preferably are welded or screwed to the lower surfaces and cover only the substantially horizontal portion of the arms lower surfaces. The specific attachment and configuration of the plates 28 and 29 are not critical so long as they provide end portions coacting with angled facing surfaces 15 and 16 to form a posotioned notch or jaw on each pincer arm. The tongue member 24 has a forked end 30 for engaging the peripheral rim of a button such as 31 shown in FIG. 1.

In normal operation pincer arms 13 and 14 are spread apart with respect to each other and tongue 24 wvithdrawn by insention of a button in the clamp, so that each of these members moves substantially radially of a centrai point corresponding to the center of a button to be clamped. Spring pressure of spring 22 causes the tongue and arms to firmly grip the button. A conventional means can be used to resiliently urge the button clamp downwardly so that the substantially flat button 31 having holes 32 is unoved downwardly to lay adjacent a fabric to which the button it to be sewn. A sewing machine needle is then actuated to stitch through holes 32 and join the button to the fabric.

The portion of the device described above and its operation are in accordance with conventional practice in the industry. However, according to the invention, the device is modified to incorporate the buttonhole spreading feature of this invention. This is done by the use of preferably aligned sliding surfaces 34 and 35 preferably provided by longitudinal grooves on the lower side of plates 29 as 'best seen in FIG. 2. Generally U-shaped resilient metallic leaf springs 36 and 37 are attached to each of the sliding surfaces. Preferably spring 36 is welded or otherwise joined to the sliding surface 34 only at its end 36a nearest the surface 15, with its second end 36b being free to move along the surface 34. Spring 37 is similarly attached to sliding surface 35 at its end 37a nearest surface 16 leaving free end 37b free to slide along surface 35. The lowermost portions of each of the U- shaped spring members 36 and 37 each have a friction contact surface 40 and 41, respectively, which can be `formed by knurling. Friction contact surfaces 40 and 41 may be formed by separately attaching a friction pad or other material to the under portion of the spring.

The particular configuration of the springs in each embodiment of the invention may vary considerably and they may have V, W or similar shapes Ithat provide for lateral movement of the contact surface upon compression as will be described.

In operation of the spring members the button clamp arms are moved downwardly and the knurled portions y40 and 41 are forced against an underlying fabric surface. Thus, springs 36 and 37 are depressed towards surfaces 34 and 35, respectively. This compression movement of the springs causes sliding of the ends of the spring on the sliding surfaces and the knurled friction sunfaces 40 and 41 move outwardly and away from each other. Side walls of the grooves forming the sliding surfaces act as guides to assure movement of the knurled portions 4t) and 41 substantially outwardly from each other along substantially a single straight line. The particular dimensions of the springs can vary with longer dis- Itances of contact surfaces from the bottom of the pllates 29 generally providing for greater lateral shifting than shorter distances.

In the operation of the buttonhole spreader of this invention, the button clamp portion of the spreader 10 is operated in accordance with customary procedure and automatically actuates movement of the spreader springs 36 and 37 as will be described with particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The spreader is shown in its resting position in FIG. 3. A button such as 31 is inserted into and resiliently engaged by the forked end of tongue 24 and the jaws of pincer arms 13 and 14 as shown in FIG. 4. Spring members 36 and 37 retain their lU-shape during this operation. Following placement of the button, a garment or other article to which a button is to be sewn is positioned above the feed plate 42 of a conventional sewing machine. The garment may comprise an underlying fabric layer 43 and an overlying fabric layer 44 as in the front of a coat with a layer 44 being one-half of the coat front and a layer 43 being a second half. Layer 44 has a buttonhole comprising parallel elongated edges or lips 45 and 46 which normally lie adjacent each other and conventionally have lengths of one-half inch and more. As shown in rFIG. 4, the buttonhole spreader 1G is brought downwardly by resilient pressure exerted on bar 18 to cause arms 13 and 14 to engage the fabric layer 44. As pressure is exerted downwardly, knurled portions 40 and 41 frictionally engage opposing sides of the material adjacent lips 46 and 45, respectively, and urge these lips apart to the position shown in FIG. 4 (when the springs are flattened and depressed in the fabric) allowing room for a sewing machine needle to sew through holes 32 and attach the button to fabric layer 43. -It should be understood that it is preferred that the lips 45 and 46 be spread apart a distance less than the width or diameter of the button being sewn so that upon upward movement of pincer arms 13 and 14, when the arms are disengaged, the button remains engaged with the buttonhole formed by lips 45 and 46. A finished garment can thus be made without the need for later engagement of the buttonhole. Conventional off-the-arm sewing machines used for stitching tubular garments, cantilever sewing machines or other means can be used to form a series of sewn buttons in a row on a garment.

It should also be appreciated that no marking of the fabric to which the button is sewn need be made since one merely aligns the buttonhole in the position in which it is to be placed and sews the button in its exact position. This alignment can be done by eye.

In an alternate embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the button clamp portion of the buttonhole sprcader is identical to that described with reference to FIGS. 1-4 and springs 36 and 37 are replaced by springs 50 and 51. Springs 50 and 51 each have body portions formed of the same general U-shape as springs 36 and 37 but each have integral elongated fiat extensions 52 and 53, respectively, with L-shaped bent over ends 54 and 55. Extensions 52 and 53 are substantially rigid and may be provided with stiffening ribs (not shown) on their upper surfaces. The extensions are in end to end alignment with downwardly bent edges or bent over ends 54 and 5S adapted to move in the direction of arrows 54a and 55a, respectively, upon pressure being exerted at the lowerrnost portion of springs 50` and 51, respectively. Springs 50 and 51 are Welded or otherwise attached to the sliding surfaces 34 and 35 at the inner forked edges 50a and 51a, respectively, and are free at their outer edges 50b and 51b as shown in FIG. 5.

Thus, when the button clamp with attached springs 50 and 51 is brought downwardly to bear on a fabric layer such as 44 as shown in IFIG. 4, attening of springs 50 and 51 causes extensions 53 and 52 to bring ends 54 and 55 between the side edges of a buttonhole and pull the side edges apart in the direction of arrows 55a and 54a. The extensions 52 and 53 are spaced apart sufficiently after compression of the springs to allow a sewing machine needle to pass between them during the sewing operation. Preferably, the lowerrnost edges of bent over ends 54 and 55 are curved upwardly from front to back as will be described with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 6a.

lIn FIG. 6a there is shown a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 6 where the bent over ends of the extensions 52 and 53 are varied and edges 50a and 51a are free while outer edges 50b and 51b are anchored to surfaces 34 and 35 respectively. Bent over ends 64 and 65 form parallel pushing surfaces for spreading apart edges of a buttonhole. The extensions 52 and 53 lie parallel to each other and can slide alongside each other in the direction of arrows 64a and 65a.

The bent over ends 64 and 65 are crossed over and have lower edges 66 and 67, respectively, curved gently upward from front to rear with a portion of each bent over end extending forwardly of the extensions to allow a sewing machine needle to pass therebetween. In use, ends 64 and 65 lie side by side and are actuated into the spaced position shown in FIG. 6a upon compression of the springs as previously described. The lower upwardly tapering edges 66 and 67 permit a fabric material to be pulled in the direction of arrow 68 with the ends 64 and 65 sliding out of the buttonhole after a button has been sewn and before return of the button clamp to its raised position by lifting hook 23.

The location of the bent over ends 64 and 65 of FIG. 6a and 54 and 55 of FIG. 5, act as a guide to the eye in placement of a buttonhole in a sewing machine in alignment with a button to be sewn.

In still another modification of the invention (not shown) the extensions carrying buttonhole gripping bent over ends are angled downwardly as in a V configuration with the arms of the V meeting at the bent over ends. For example, the spring extensions 52 and 53 of FIGS. 5 and 6a can form arms of a V, meeting at a lowerrnost point formed by ends 54, 55 or 64, 65. This expedient permits the bent over ends to ride over the material 44, with extensions 52 and 53 resiliently deformed, when the material 44 is slide along a sewing machine plate 42. When the ends such as 54, 55 pass over a buttonhole the spring extensions urge the bent over ends into the hole and upon lowering of the pincer arms the buttonhole edges are spread apart as above described. This construction provides for automatic locating of a buttonhole without the need for positioning by eye.

In another alternate embodiment of this invention, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the feed plate of a sewing machine with vvhich the buttonhole spreader is used, is grooved to form an elongated ridge 80` extending along the length of the plate underlying a buttonhole and extending coaxially therewith. Grooves 81 and 82V form depressions into which material on either side of the buttonhole may be compacted to spread the buttonhole apart in use. Spring members 83 and 84 are substantially fiat leaf springs having bent over ends 83a and 84a bent at an acute angle to the major portion of the springs which lie flat against the lower surface of pincer arms 13 and 14, respectively. The springs 83 and 84 may be joined to the pincer arms by conventional screws such as 85.

As best seen in FIG. 8, when the pincer arms 13 and 14 are clamped about a button 31 and brought down into engagement with the underlying fabric layers 44 and 43, the underside of hooked ends 83a and 84a frictionally engage fabric on opposing sides of the buttonhole and spread the buttonhole lips apart to enable sewing through holes 32 to the underlying fabric 43. The planar surfaces of ends 83a and 84a are spread apart by contact with the fabric backed by the inclined walls of ridge 80. The walls of ridge act as an inclined plane and translate downward movement of the edges of the buttonhole into lateral spreading movement. In some cases the inclined planes formed by the walls of ridge 80 can act by themselves or with at nonresilient projections from arms 13 and 14 to spread the buttonhole on downward movement of the arms. Preferably the ends 83a, 84a are inclined at an angle with each other less than the angle between the walls of ridge 80 so that they are spread apart, as shown in FIG. 8, upon actuation by bending at their attachment to the horizontal portions of the springs.

The planar surfaces formed by -bent over ends 83a, 84a can be provided by other configuration springs or means than that shown with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, inverted V shaped, rigid means can be used, such as a conventional clothespin having rigid arms joined by a coil spring enanbling resilient spreading of the arms on contact with the underlying ridge 80. The planar surfaces can also be arranged at other angles than described, such as an angle substantially equal to the angle between the walls of ridge 80. In this case they are preferably mounted to move away from each other upon downward movement to the position of FIG. 8. For example, screws 85 can be eliminated and conventional spring loaded tracks used to mount springs 83, 84 resiliently biased into the position of FIG. 7. When the arms 13, 14 are brought down, ends 83a, 84a bear against the fabric and are moved outwardly from each other by the ridge 80 with horizontal portions of the springs moving along their axes towards and under their respective pincer arms. Upward movement of the arms causes automatic return of the springs to the position of FIG. 7. Thus, the planar surfaces need not change their angle with respect to each other to open the buttonhole.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, L-shaped preferably nonresilient hooks and 91 are attached to arms 13 and 14, respectively. Hooked ends 92 and 93 are shaped identically with bent over ends 54 and 55 of FIG. 5 and the substantially horizontal portions of hooks 90 and 91 correspond to extensions 52 and 53.

In this embodiment the ends 92 and 93 lie side by side before insertion of a button in the arms 13 and 14. The arms are brought down into engagement with a fabric with ends 92 and 93 entering the hole. A button is inserted in the button clamp which automatically spreads the hooks apart along with the buttonhole edges as shown in FIG. 9.

In still another modification of this invention illustrated in FIGS. l() and 11, flat leaf spring-type members are not used, but wire springs 70 and 71 are employed, attached to undersurfaces of the pincer arms 13 and 14 by screw means such as 72 and 73. In this embodiment, the lips of the buttonholes are engaged by a spring member and positively pulled and spread apart during downward movement.

Wire springs 70 and 71 are substantially mating mirror images of each other and comprise leg portions 74 crossing over one another with a generally S-shaped portion 7S defining adjacent, bent over ends 76 and 77 adapted to enter into a buttonhole and pull the lips thereof apart in the same manner as described with relation of FIG. 5. A lowermost bight portion 78 of each spring is provided in conjunction with a bend 79. The bend 79 can be eliminated and a straight wire portion provided between the attachment of the springs to the pincer arms and their bight portions 78. The ends 76 and 77 preferably are shaped with a lower curved surface as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a.

The particular configuration of the springs 70 and 71 may vary considerably. However, in all cases a preferably lowermost portion such as 78 is used for providing a good bearing and sliding surface for contact with an underlyingv material and the bearing and sliding surface is connected with the ends 76 and 77 for actuating them and for movement therewith. Thus, the bearing surfaces move outwardly from each other due to spring action when they bear against an underlying fabric and drag ends 76 and 77 therewith.

In operation, when the button clamp is brought downwardly the bight portions 78 bear against the underlying fabric and the ends 76 and 77 enter the buttonhole, passing about the thickness of the fabric below the level of bight portions 78. Downward pressure resiliently bends the springs 70 and 71 to translate substantially vertical movement to lateral movement with ends 76 and 77 moV- ing in the direction of arrows 76a and 77a, respectively, spreading the buttonhole. Thus, bight portions 78 act as bearing and sliding means for translating direction of movement from a vertical direction to a lateral or horizontal direction.

While certain embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be obivous that many modifications thereof are possible. For example, nonmetallic spring materials can be used and the U-shape of the leaf springs can be varied. The term U-shaped is intended to include all spring shapes which provide for spreadingof ends of a spring in a plane perpendicular to a compression force. In some cases only one pincer arm carries a U-shaped spring and the other carries a nonfiexible U- shaped member so that only one side of the buttonhole is spread.

While the spreading of this arrangement has been shown in embodiments mounted on a conventional buttonhole clamp, it should be understood that the spreader embodiments disclosed can be mounted on other means. For example, the spring clips 70 and 71 can be mounted on a movable plate underlying a button clamp and attached to the base of a sewing machine. Similarly, a separate mounting plate or other means can be provided for any of the embodiments disclosed. Therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lbuttonhole spreader for use in connection with a sewing machine, said spreader comprising:

means for supporting said spreader, I

means for application of a downward force on said spreader,

and spring means on said spreader for directly engaging a material defining a buttonhole and for translating said downward force into lateral movement.

2. A buttonhole spreader for use in connection with sewing a `button ontoa material through a buttonhole in an overlying material with the use of a sewing machine, said spreader comprising:

means for application of a downward force,

spring means carrying contact surfaces for directly engaging the surface of said overlying material on either side lof said buttonhole to laterally spread side edges of said underlying buttonhole upon application of said downward force causing compression and lateral movement of said spring means.

3. A buttonhole spreader in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a support surface for said spring means, said spring means comprises a pair of spaced U- shaped springs having first ends attached to said support surface and facing each other with second free ends thereof being free to slide on said surface upon compression of said springs.

4. A lbuttonhole spreader in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring means comprise two U-shaped springs, said U-shaped springs each carry an elongated extension,

said extensions being aligned with each other and comprising downwardly bent edges for engaging and spreading edges of a buttonhole upon compression of said springs.

5. A buttonhole spreader in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises:

a pair of spaced springs,

said springs each having a U-shaped body portion and an elongated extension,

said extensions lying generally parallel to each other and crossing each other at downwardly `bent ends thereof,

said downwardly bent ends extending side by side laterally of said extensions,

said U-shaped springs each having outer and inner ends,

a sliding surface mounting outer ends of each of said U-shaped springs with inner ends thereof being free to slide `over said surface on compression of said springs.

6. A buttonhole spreader in accordance with claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises:

a pair of downwardly depending wire spring elements each defining a bearing and sliding surface and a buttonhole edge engaging end,

said buttonhole edge engaging ends lying side by side with said spring elements crossing each other,

said bearing surfaces 'being constructed and arranged to cause movement of said ends away from each other upon compression of said spring elements when said bearing surface is pressed against a horizontal surface.

7. A buttonhole spreader construction comprising:

a sewing machine feed plate having an elongated ridge thereon, said ridge comprising inclined walls,

reciprocal means mounted above said ridge yfor contacting portions of a fabric adjacent a buttonhole when said buttonhole is positioned on and aligned with said ridge,

said reciprocal means being mounted for movement toward and away from said ridge,

said reciprocal means comprising a resilient spring member having an acute angled end,

said end overlying one of said inclined walls.

8. In a sewing machine button lclamp comprising two opposed pincer arms constructed and arranged to move towards and away from each other in a plane to retain a button therebetween,

said arms being mounted for substantially vertical movement as a pair to position said button adjacent a surface to which said button is to be attached by said sewing machine,

the improvement comprising spring means depending downwardly from each of said arms and coacting together for engaging an underlying material having a buttonhole therein and spreading adjacent edges of said buttonhole apart to permit sewing of a button retained by said pincer arms directly to a second material underlying said buttonhole.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said pincer ar-nis comprise a lower surface and said spring means comprises a first U-shaped spring depending downwardly from said lower surface of a first of said pincer arms,

said U-shaped spring having a first end edge attached first to said first pincer arm, and a second end edge positioned to ybear against and slide along said lower surface up=on pressing of said arms against said first mentioned surface. 10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said spring means comprises a second U-shaped spring depending downwardly from the second of said pincer arms,

said second U-shaped spring having a rst end edge attached to said second pincer arm and a second end edge positioned to -bear against and slide along a lower surface of said second pincer arm upon pressing of said arms against said rst mentioned surface. 11. The improvement of claim 8 wherein at least one of said pincer arms has a lower surfaceproviding a mounting and sliding sur-face,

said downwardly depending spring means on said one arm `comprises a substantially U-shaped spring attached to said lower surface at one end and having a second end free to slide over said surface,

`an intermediate portion of said spring comprising a lower-most portion thereof having a friction means for friction gripping said material having a buttonhole therein,

said intermediate portion being capable of lateral shifting in a plane upon flexing of said spring causing said free end to slide over said surface.

12. A buttonhole spreader comprising a button clamp having a pair of pincer arms constructed and arranged to move towards `and away from each other to alternately hold or release a button therebetween,

said pincer arms each dening a lower sliding surface constructed and arranged to contact a rst fabric having a buttonhole therein when said fabric is placed over an underlying fabric to which a button is to be sewn with a sewing machine feed plate backing said underlying fabric,

two substantially U-shaped springs each having one end mounted on one of said lower surfaces of said pincer arms by attachment of one end of each of said springs to one of said lower sliding surfaces with a free end of each of said springs adapted to ,bear against said slide along its corresponding lower surface when 'said springs are flexed and urged towards said lower surfaces.

13. A buttonhole spreader in accordance with claim 12 wherein said springs each have an intermediate lowermost portion, said intermediate lowermost portions dening fritcion means being positioned to frictionally engage said first fabric with said intermediate portions adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of said buttonhole,

said. attached ends of said springs being spaced closer than said free ends of said springs to a center point of a button adapted to be held by said arms.

14. A buttonhole spreader in accordance with claim 12 .wherein said U-shaped springs each have an elongated extension with a downturned buttonhole edge engaging end,

the buttonhole edge engaging end of each of said eX- tensions normally lying in side by side relationship 'and being adapted to selectively move towards and away from each other along substantially parallel paths upon corresponding movement of said springs towards and away from said lower surfaces.

15. A buttonhole spreader comprising a button clamp having a pair of facing pincer arms constructed and arranged to move towards and away from each other to alternately hold or release a button therebetween,

said pincer arms carrying means depending downwardly therefrom for engaging side edges of a buttonhole upon downward movement of said clamp and for spreading said edges upon spreading of said arms, said means comprising a pair of aligned inwardly eX- tending, overlapped L-shaped members having downwardly bent ends lying parallel to each other.

16. A buttonhole spreader yfor Iuse in connection with a sewing machine for sewing a button positioned parallel to an underlying fabric to said fabric with a second overlying fabric lying on said rst mentioned fabric below Said button and carrying a buttonhole, 4means for supporting said spreader such that it is located between said button and said second mentioned fabric carrying said buttonhole,

and spring means on said spreader for directly engaging said material carrying said buttonhole and for translating movement of said spreader toward said second mentioned material into lateral movement of side edges of said buttonhole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,073 2/1905 Quist 112-110 822,551 6/ 1905 Powell 112-110 1,036,603 8/1912 r Gatchell 112-110 1,998,587 4/1935 McCann 112--110 2,198,312 4/1940 Lyons ll2110 FOREIGN PATENTS 238,184 3/1962` Canada.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BUTTONHOLE SPREADER FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH A SEWING MACHINE, SAID SPREADER COMRPRISING: MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SPREADER, MEANS FOR APPLICATION OF A DOWNWARD FORCE ON SAID SPREADER, AND SPRING MEANS ON SAID SPREADER FOR DIRECTLY ENGAGING A MATERIAL DEFINING A BUTTONHOLE AND FOR TRANSLATING SAID DOWNWARD FORCE INTO LATERAL MOVEMENT. 